Hay-carrier track



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. H. L. FERRIS. HAY CARRIER TRACK.

Patented Oct. 13, 1891.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

H. L. FERRIS.

HAY CARRIER TRAGK.

No. 460,959. Patented Oct. 13,1891.

ru: Noam: warms cc., Fawn-01140., msumsmu, a. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY L. FERRIS, OF HARVARD, ILLINOIS.

HAY-CARRIER TRACK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 460,959, dated October13, 1891.

Application filed May 29, 1891.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY L. FERRIS, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Harvard, in the county of McI-Ienry and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin MetalTracks for Hay-Carriers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements designed to produce astrong, light, simple, and easily-handled metal track. The most suitablemetal in use at present for this purpose is steel, and as the cost ofthe same is considerable any saving of material makes considerabledifference in the cost of the track. It also makes it easier to handleand much neater in appearance when in use.

\Vith the above end in viewI have endeavored to discover the best shapeinto which the metal may be put to perform all the necessary functionsof a hay-carrier track. A track of this sort must be provided with meansfor suspending it from the rafters or other timbers of a barn or shedand must bear a double tread to receive the fourwheeled carriers now incommon use. The most convenient way of supporting the track is by meansof hangers engaging therewith between the two treads on the oppositesides. These hangers should be able to slide longitudinally of thetrack, so that they may be brought into any necessary position to reachthe timbers from which they are suspended. It is no easy matter, forthese reasons, to devise a form for a metal track which shall be at oncelight, cheap, and strong. Various shapes have been used, among which arewhat are known as T-rails; also, two pieces of channel-iron have beenfastened together by blocks, and various other efforts have been made toutilize some of the common forms of iron or steel upon the market. Iwish to furnish a track which shall be of the necessary strength, andyet shall be lighter, cheaper, and more graceful than any of the formsheretofore used. For this purpose I form a suitable metal, as steel,into a substantially U shape, with the convex portion downward and theedges turned inward toward each other, to form horizontal flanges,between which barely sufficient room is left to receive bolts or rods,upon which the track is hung. The steel may be rolled at Serial No.394,461. (No model.)

similar section of Fig. 2 in Fig. 4, another perspective of one end of apiece of track in Fig. 5, illustrating the method of uniting thedifferent pieces, a cross-section of one of the joints in Fig. 6,similar cross-sections of modifled forms of joints in Figs. 7, S, 9, and10, a broken side view of the form seen in Figs. 9 and 11, and a crosssection of a modified form of hanger in Fig. 12.

The simplest form in which my invention can be placed is seen in Figs. 2and 4, where the entire track is formed of a single solid band of steelA, bent to form the downwardly-convex portion a and the inturned fiathorizontal flanges a a \Vith this track is seen a bolt B, having ashank 1) small enough to slide back and forth in the slot a between theinturned flanges, and a head Z) too large to be pulled through saidslot. The shank of the bolt extends upward and is provided with anyconvenient means of connection with the supporting-timbers. uniting thedifferent sections of tracks of this form are shown in Figs. 9 and 10,the sections being square at the edge, abutted against each other, andconnecting-plates C or O, fitted. to

the convex portion of the track and tightly clamped thereto bybolts D D.The plate G is shown inside of the track and the plate 0 outside of it.In connection with the plate 0' a solid block E is shown, entirelyfilling the inside of the track. It is obvious that in place of thissolid block the concavo-convex band 0 could be used. The solid block hasthe advantage of bearing upon the horizontal flanges as well as theconvex portion of the track, and hence making the joint stiffer, whilethe block itself is obviously stronger. On the other hand, the band Cdoes not interfere with the sliding of the bolt-heads 13 back and forthfrom end to end of the united track.

IVhile the form above described is un- Three different ways of tiallyone-half of the track shown in Fig. 2,

and these two strips are each provided with downwardly-bent verticalflanges a a firmly united by means of rivets or bolts F to join theminto a substantially solid track. This form is more easily rolled orbent than the one shown in the remaining figures, and the unitedvertical flanges stifienit considerably against downward strain from theload. The ease with which the different sections are joined is shown inFigs. 5 and 6,which illustrate how a very satisfactory joint can be madebysimply allowing-one side of the track to extend beyond the other ateach end of each section and clamping the projecting portions'togetherby means of bolt F, applied to the downwardly-hanging flanges of theconvex portions. If it is found necessary to strengthen this joint, thesame can be done as shown in either Fig. 7 or 9, where O is a bandfittedto the-interior of the convex'portion of the rail and securedthereto by boltsD, and C C are plates fitted to the outside of the sameportion, and also to the depending flanges.

Fig. 12 illustrates an improvement in the hanger which supports thetrack. It is not easy to procure headed rods or bolts of the sizedesired, and-besides it is frequently desirable-to have the hangervertically adj ustable toa certain extent. To enable common iron'orsteel rods to be used, Ihave provided a washer G, large enough tosupport the flanges a a and having itself downwardlyprojecting'lugs g,which may be continuous, if desired,-to form a socket adapted to receivea nut H, threaded to the rod, and to prevent said nut from turning whenthe rod is'turned. The Washer itself is preferably made large enough tofit tightly within the rail and with-squared sides to prevent itsturning in the same. I

I do not intend to limit myself to any particular one of the formsdescribed ,nor to any combination of all the different improvements,except as pointed out in the claims appended hereto, in which I closelydefine those features which I believe to be novel.

It is obvious that various modifications are possible in all of mydifferent improvements, especially in mere matters of form. Thus while Iprefer to make the portion of the track which unites the horizontalflanges a a downwardly convex, it will readily be seen that this shapecan be varied without departing from my invention. Thus it might be madeV-shaped or square without any considerable effect upon the track,except perhaps waste of material, greater difficulty of construction, orloss of strength. Again, the nut H (shownin the last figure) is notessential, though preferable, as the hanger could be threaded directlyin the washer.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A track havinghorizontal portions to form a double tread separated byapractically-continuous slot,and 3. depending portion uniting the outeredges of thistread, in combination with a hanger hayinga shank adaptedto slide back and forth in the slot, and means applied to the end of thehanger to prevent it from being'drawn through the same, substantially asdescribed.

2. The combination, with atrack composed of two strips arranged side byside, each formed with a horizontal'tread, a vertical uniting flange,and a connecting portion between this fiange and the outer edge of thetread, said uniting flanges being firmly secured together and saidconnecting portions being so shaped that when the same are united thereshall be apractically-continuous slot between the inner edges of thetreads, of a hanger having a shank adapted to slide back and forth insaid slot, and means applied to the end of a hanger to'prevent it frombeing drawn down through the same, substantially as described.

3. A track having horizontal portions to form a double tread separatedby a practically-continuous slot, and a depending portion uniting theouter edges of this tread, in combination with a hanger having a shankadapted to slide back and forth in the slot, a non-rotatable washer uponthe hanger within the track, and aunt threaded to the hanger beneath thewasher, substantially as described.

HENRY L. FERRIS. Witnesses:

WM. GEORGE, BART STEVENSON.

